A TRAVELLER AT BERLIN. IJT 



procured no conliderable benefit to his country ; for, 

 though his view in it might be to render himfelf more 

 independent on other countries : yet the other eflablifh- 

 ments are well enough known, which hinder this, and 

 are in general detrimental to commerce. Capitals^ 

 moreover, are very unfuitable to the ereftion of fabrics* 

 and the miferable condition to which the fabricants of 

 this are reduced, is a fufficient proof of it. However> 

 we may at leaft find here almoft every thing we can 

 want ; and, in regard to the multitude of worklhops of 

 all kinds, Berlin has a greater fimilarity than many 

 other places to London or Paris* Some of its artificers 

 have already acquired a well-earned reputation in fo*- 

 reign parts ; and receive large orders from abroad* 

 Among thefe I particularly mention Meffrs. Elferdt and 

 Kleemeyer, who make excellent mufical clocks. Thefe 

 clocks play entire concertos of three different chords, 

 which may be varied every day without trouble, by- 

 only changing the barrels, and are fold at a very rea* 

 fonable price. 



The king formerly bellowed great attention on the 

 porcelaine manufactory ; but at prefent we may venture 

 to affirm that it is fomewhat on the decline. The paint • 

 ing which has heretofore been fo much celebrated can 

 no longer boaft of its fuperlative excellence. The good 

 workmen by degrees fall off, and thofe whom the king 

 procured from Saxony, are now grown old, and do but 

 little. ' In flower-painting they here excell ; and if I 

 wanted a fervice with garlands of rofes, I would befpeak 

 it no where elfe. The dark blue of the Berlin porce- 

 laine is alfo thought to be of inimitable beauty. The 

 jnagazine of ready-made articles well deferves to be feen ; 



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